Sen. David to head Health and Human Services Subcommittee; Treat named vice-chairman

State Sen. Kim David has been chosen to serve as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. David, R-Porter, previously served as vice-chair of the committee. Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, now takes over as vice-chairman. Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman said the appointments would guarantee a continuity of leadership for the subcommittee.

“Last session this subcommittee had the responsibility of determining the allocations of nearly $2 billion for agencies touching lives in every single community in Oklahoma,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “With Senator Clark Jolley now serving as chairman of full appropriations, we are grateful that Senator David was willing to step up to head the Health and Human Services Subcommittee. I am also confident that Senator Treat will do an excellent job as vice-chairman.”
The subcommittee determines the budgets of 12 state agencies, including the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma Department of Health and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

“The agencies contained in the Health and Human Services subcommittee impact some of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens,” David said. “There are limited resources, so it is critical for us to be diligent in our efforts to prioritize every single dollar allocated for these agencies to do the greatest good possible for our citizens.”

Treat previously served as a member of the Health and Human services subcommittee.

“I am grateful to Pro Tempore Bingman for this opportunity. Without a doubt, the agencies within Health and Human Services represent an extremely complex but crucial area of state government,” Treat said. “I look forward to working with Senator David in meeting these challenges.”